For most internet marketing specialists and online advertisers, the typical go-to networks are Google AdWords Pay-per-Click Advertising and Yahoo! Search Marketing. Very few have considered the potential of Facebook as an online advertising platform and even fewer have experimented with it.
Facebook Traffic and Social Network Activity
The most obvious benefit of Facebook advertising to internet marketing specialists and online advertisers is the social networking website's massive user base. In February 2010, Facebook's sixth year anniversary, it celebrated having 400 million active users from around the world and, it seems, that figure is still growing quickly. Furthermore, the average Facebook user spends 55 minutes a day on this social networking website.
Because of its sheer number of active users as well as the level of each user's activity on this social networking website, Facebook is definitely considered as an appealing platform for internet marketing specialists and online advertisers. It is definitely a platform to be considered as one of the best place to advertise online along with Google AdWords Pay-per-Click Advertising, Yahoo Search Marketing, and MSN Adcenter (Bing). In fact, Facebook has already surpassed Google as the most visited USA domain.
Facebook Advertising for Highly Targeted Online Marketing Campaigns
Facebook advertising offers social media traffic instead of typical search traffic. Of course, this opens up different demographic targeting options, along with a unique keyword system. Facebook's advertising platform is absolutely fantastic for age-specific and location-specific offers, particularly companies that operate in a certain area or products that are designed for a specific age range.
Facebook advertising offers nine different ways to target audiences:
- Location
- Age
- Gender
- Keywords
- Education
- Workplace
- Relationship Status
- Relationship Interests
- Languages
Thanks to an incredibly detailed search targeting feature, internet marketing specialists and online advertisers can pinpoint potential customers through details as specific as their interests, favorite movies, and location.
Facebook Advertising Options: PPC vs. CPM Advertising
On Facebook, internet marketing specialists and online advertisers can choose between two online advertising cost structures: CPC (click-based) and CPM (impression-based). Most online advertisers prefer pay-per-click advertising because that's the model they've gotten used to through search engine marketing networks. This model is also very appealing because it can drive immensely cost-effective online marketing campaigns.
However, pay-per-click advertising on Facebook can also be very expensive. While click costs were relatively expensive at the start of 2009, increased competition has forced costs up as the year goes on. That is the reason why some experienced internet marketing specialists and online advertisers prefer Facebook CPM advertising, which can actually be a great option for very low-budget clicks as long as it is done correctly.
Facebook's much talked about advertising platform is widely available to internet marketing specialists and online advertisers all around the world, offering access to ultra-targeted demographics and interest terms as well as options to pay per click or per impression.
References:
Facebook. Press Room: Statistics. Accessed April 2010.
Mark Maunder. Facebook.com overtakes Google.com as most visited USA domain. Published March 2010. Accessed April 2010.
Related Readings:
Using Facebook Advertising for Internet Marketing Campaigns
Tips for Getting Facebook Pay-per-Click Advertisements Approved
Market Segmentation for Effective Facebook Advertising Campaigns
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